Hard Work

This past Wednesday we finally got started on the biggest solar array in Brewster County!  Tim's got over 7 kilowatts of PV cells that had been sitting in a storage locker for over a year, along with 24 batteries that each weigh 107 pounds.

After pulling out the PV panels and arranging them on the trailer, we finally had access to the batteries that were sitting on the bottom of the pile.  The batteries are 12V AGMs, and despite sitting for that long, they were all over 12 volts.


We loaded up all the batteries and panels, and helped move them to Tim's remote location in the Solitario/Agua Fria outskirts.

Unfortunately Old Smokey's (the red truck that used to be woodgas powered) beleaguered fuel pump decided to die on the way out, and after we dropped off the equipment we had to limp the truck home.

Tim was kind enough to follow us all the way back to Phil and Gina's home, and actually towed us the last ten miles with his Touareg.

The whole day was a lot like a VDub commercial.


The next day Casey spent hours replacing the fuel pump.  We had actually been planning to replace the pump soon, so we had the parts on hand.  The hard part was pulling the bed, thanks to all the bolts being seized with rust and undercoating.  We eventually got all six bolts out and with four people the bed lifted off fairly easily.  Of course there was an inch of road dust on everything under there.


By Friday afternoon the truck was running better than it had and Casey was back to work, fixing other people's cars.


Saturday was an at-home day, and we finally got the tar paper and metal roofing up on the bathroom extension.  There are still quite a few bug-holes, but we are happy to be able to check that job off the list.


We also replaced the control arms in the new truck and the brakes.  Starting the chicken run had been on the to-do list, but we ran out of daylight sooner than expected (again).


Monday was spent pouring a pad for a client's battery bank.  This installation is for 6KW per day, and will power an off-grid RV hookup.


While the concrete was drying, we went to visit one of our suppliers who lives on the Ranch.  Ron had just gotten back from East Texas, and had brought back a trailer full of low-priced AGM batteries.


We picked up eight for the installation and chatted with Ron and Missie for a while.  We really like the convenience of getting as much of our supplies from local sellers as possible.  It saves us a long drive and supports local business too!